Freedom Ride, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives and experiences of individuals with disabilities in the Central Florida area through therapeutic horse riding and related activities.

Certified Teams are available to visit health care facilities and homes of individuals with disabilities. To contact a Pet Partner Team, e-mail Dr. Linda Buettner at or call the Interdisciplinary Center for Positive Aging at 239-590-7852. We will call you as soon as we can to set up an appointment interview for a series of volunteer visits by certified teams.

Hug A Pet Therapy GroupPasco County, FL
www.hugapet.freeservers.com

Hug A Pet is a volunteer organization in Pasco County, Florida made up of 17 humans and 19 dogs, and 3 cats. On their website they state, “Pet therapy truly is a winning experience for everyone involved. Dogs offer unconditional love. They make residents smile, and the staff laugh. And finally, dogs are at their best when they feel they are needed.” They visit in New Port Richey, Holiday and Hudson, Florida. There is no contact information on their site.

A Visiting Pet Partner Volunteer (VPPV) works with HSGM to help the community de-institutionalize a facility and provide a more natural home-like environment by bringing pets into the facility on a regular basis. This can change a resident’s health or behavior positively and perhaps permanently. The VPPV assists in increasing the public’s awareness about HSGM’s shelters and its mission.

The Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART) creates an environment that is both therapeutic and enjoyable … for something special happens when a horse and a special needs person meet. Together they create a unique learning and therapeutic opportunity that is JUST PLAIN FUN!

PVP TEAMS routinely visit sick children and brain-injured patients in a hospital setting, as well as senior citizens in adult day care and long-term care facilities. All pets must first pass a physical and behavioral evaluation before being considered for the Pet Visitation Program. For safety reasons, pets must be at least 18 months old to be considered, and handlers must be at least 18 years of age or older to participate. Each PVP
Team is required to make a minimum of two visits per month and attend a Program meeting each quarter. Additional training is required!

SPECIALIZED PET VISITATION PROGRAMS is for experienced PVP Teams and includes specialized programs like WAGGING TALES, which focuses on increasing a child’s level of confidence so they can become better readers and the T.E.A.C.H. PROGRAM, which offers specialized visitation and animal care lessons for at-risk youth.

Jackie's List

Practitioners - individuals and groups that practice AAA-AAT within their local communities

Evaluators - individuals who are credentialed by a national organization to certify AAA-AAT teams